Pamlico boys ready for conference play

Published: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 09:05 PM.

BAYBORO — The prep basketball season is coming down to a key stretch. Every team practices and prepares for conference play.

Coach Earl Sadler’s Pamlico Hurricanes are 5-6, with most of their losses coming at the hands of supremely talented teams like Croatan and West Craven.

“We are right where we need to be. We are fine right now,” Sadler said.

“If we were stumbling at 2-9 or something like that, then the kids and I would not be feeling good, but at 5-6 with some good wins like the one over Washington, a 3A school, we are playing at a level that we can stand.”

Sadler’s team may be okay with where it is, but not content.

The Hurricanes begin Coastal Conference play on Friday against East Carteret (8-4) in Bayboro.

Pamlico has been champions of the Coastal Plains Conference and are usually strong contenders most years.

BAYBORO — The prep basketball season is coming down to a key stretch. Every team practices and prepares for conference play.

Coach Earl Sadler’s Pamlico Hurricanes are 5-6, with most of their losses coming at the hands of supremely talented teams like Croatan and West Craven.

“We are right where we need to be. We are fine right now,” Sadler said.

“If we were stumbling at 2-9 or something like that, then the kids and I would not be feeling good, but at 5-6 with some good wins like the one over Washington, a 3A school, we are playing at a level that we can stand.”

Sadler’s team may be okay with where it is, but not content.

The Hurricanes begin Coastal Conference play on Friday against East Carteret (8-4) in Bayboro.

Pamlico has been champions of the Coastal Plains Conference and are usually strong contenders most years.

This version of the black and gold clad, are led by forward Jermicus Brown, who is averaging 14.2 points per game and playing at an all-area level, while only averaging 25 or so minutes per game, according to Sadler.

Josiah Simmons is the team’s second-leading scorer at 10.6 points per game.

What makes Sadler beam the most about this team’s chances at success is his ever-solid play from the point guard position.

Sophomore Cameron Moore and junior D.J. Lewis split time as the “floor general,” and both have impressed their coach so far.

“Cameron and D.J. are playing really well in both of their roles,” Sadler said. “Cameron is starting because he has a good rhythm with starters and same for D.J. coming off the bench with the reserves.

“This is probably one of the only years where I have shuffled through about four starting lineups, trying to find the right rotation and rhythm. We’ve struggled at the point the last four or five years, but Cameron and D.J. have solidified that position.”

Pamlico has lost to 4A Wilmington Hoggard, along with Northside (Pinetown), West Carteret, West Craven and once beaten Croatan (twice).

“Teams don’t schedule the way we do, thinking they are going to go 10-1, but the tough schedule helps us in conference play because some teams in our conference are so physical,” Sadler said.